Thirty Four: “The Upside-Down Kingdom”

 

 

I was recently given an old school copy of  ”The Upside-Down Kingdom” written by Donald B. Kraybill.  When I read the section below, I thought to myself “YESSSS!” then clenched my fist and proceeded to fist pump vigoursly.  It’s a bit sad that my son was in bed at this time as he is alwasy good for a high-five, sometimes even a high-ten.

Donald B. Kraybill on the Kindom of God:

“In a real sense the term defied definition since it is pregnant with many meanings.  This in fact is the secret of it’s genius.  It stimulates our imagination again and again.  Biblical scholars generally agree that the term ’kingdom of God’ indicates the dynamic rule or reign of God.  The kingdom of God occurs when persons are ruled by God.  The German scholar Jeremias points out that the reign of God always stands for the government, authority, and power of the King.  It does not refer to a territory in a spatial sense.  Nor does it have an abstract or static meaning.  The kingdom does not stand still on a particular piece of ground – it is always in the process of being achieved.  The kingdom points us not to the place of God but to the act of  God.  It is His ruling activity.  The kingdom is present whenever women and men submit themselves to God’s reign in their life.”

Amen!

 “The Upside-Down Kingdom” – by Donald. B. Kraybill, page 25.

Thirty Three: Encouragement Amidst Failure

Of course encouragement isn’t only for those who are devastated by failure.  But encouragement sure is important for those people, in those moments.

I want to tell you about Peter.

I enjoy preaching.  I think that sometimes I may actually do alright.  But, as any public speaker will tell you (or maybe it’s just me…) there are some talks or speaking engagements that will just bomb.  I think particularly of a sermon I preached a few years ago.  I remember thinking halfway through, as I seemingly struggled for the words to speak, “this sermon sucks”.  It didn’t help that I felt as if I was falling asleep while preaching the darn thing.  Falling asleep during your own sermon is never a good sign.  I remember turning off my lapel mic, walking back to my seat feeling completely reassured in my thoughts and feelings while I preached.  It sucked.  It really did.  Veteran pastors often tell me that they have had similar experiences only to hear from people listening later that it blew their minds.

Nope.  Didn’t happen with this one.  It sucked.  Bad!  The worst part about preaching a bad sermon is the next 12 hours.  It lingers and debilitates me as if my soul is broken with the disappointment of a missed opportunity.  It was like this on that fateful Sunday.  I felt like a failure.

On that Sunday, as per usual, my wife, brand new son and I went out to visit family.  We came back fairly late, and upon entry into our little house we noticed a message on the answering machine.  I pressed play.  It was Peter.  Peter is an older fellow, with an old voice, who sometimes loses himself in his sentences, but it didn’t matter.  I remember my wife almost in tears because of the beauty of his words.  Then the answering machine cut out, the message went too long.  Disappointed I pressed play for the next message… it was Peter.  He called back to finish his message.  It was as if his words dug my soul out of the depths of despair into a place where I could continue on.  Peter is the most empowering encourager that I have ever met.

The best encouragers speak into the depths of the soul with words or actions that seemingly transcend the paralyzing debilitation of failure and empower the journey forward.  They don’t just make us feel good about ourselves.  If you’ve been courageous you know it doesn’t always feel good.  Encouragement sparks a courage to continue knowing that it is not a lonely journey, but one that is taken together.

Some people have this gift, Peter is one of those people, and I will be eternally grateful.  When you encourage don’t be ‘wussy’ about it.  Use words or actions that move beyond cliché.  Use words that search for the soul and empower the journey in the midst of their failure.  Most importantly, let them know that they are not alone in the journey.

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Thirty Two: The ‘F-You’ Pastor

I am preaching this Sunday at my church.  I would be lying if I told you that their wasn’t a little piece of me that wishes I was able to preach like this.  I don’t know if it would get me in trouble or not, but that is not the point, cause well, I’ll never be able to preach like this anyway.   

While this short little clip may trivialize forgiveness, it certainly points to the messy reality that forgiveness is an essential dynamic of faith.  We are forgiven, so we forgive. 

I love the lady that is giving hi-5′s in the front row near the end of the clip. 

This has been around for a while, and I certainly don’t mean to offend, but I hope you crack a smile with this one. 

Thirty Eight.One: Super Christian Dance Moves

I came across this video quite a while ago and still don’t really know what to think.  All I know is that I felt awkward watching this and found myself asking the question ”what does it take for a bunch of people to come up with something like this?”  I mean no disrespect.  But it is a simple curiosity.  Maybe this is one of those contextual/cultural things that I was never supposed to understand.  I dunno.

I should confess that I secretly want to be the guy in the middle rockin’ these dance moves.    Enjoy!  

Thirty One: Praying with the Anabaptists

This book has been a tremendous blessing for me to work and read through.  Below is just one example of this blessing. 

It has been said that in George Blaurock’s four short years of ministry he had a helping hand in baptizing 1000 people in northern Switzerland and the Tyrol.  In 1529, he along with some of his companions were apprehended, imprisioned, condemned for their faith and burned alive.   This is a prayer he wrote in an effort to strengthen the faith of other believers.  Be blessed by the richness of this prayer.

Lord God,

I will praise you now and until my end

because you have given me faith

by which I have learned to know you.

When I felt the heavy load of sin in me,

you came to me with the Word of your divine grace.

For this I will now magnify and praise your glorious

name forever.

Strengthen my faith, O Lord.

Do not forget me

but be with me always.

Protect and teach me with your Holy Spirit

that in all my sufferings I may receive your consolation.

 

Dear Lord,

help me to bear the cross to the destined place,

and turn yourself to me with all grace.

that I may commend my spirit into your hands.

I sencerely pray for all my enemies, O Lord.

however many there may be.

Do no lay their sins to their charge.

Lord, I entreat this according to your will.

May God finish His holy work,

and give strength to the end.

Amen.

Taken from the book “Praying with the Anabaptists: the Secret of Bearing Fruit” page 141, 142.